Over the past few years, integration among counties in Kenya has greatly expanded as part of the country’s devolution agenda. Counties have formed and fashioned themselves into regional economic blocs, largely due to their historical, political, environmental and economic similarities. This has provided an effective platform for sharing information especially among the community including elders, widows, Community Based Organizations (CBO) and community health advocates on the roles they have played to hold counties accountable for the commitments as shared during the previous convening action plans. The Lake Region Economic Bloc is one of the six blocs formulated by the counties to spur sustainable economic growth through policy harmonization and resource mobilization. The LREB comprises Fourteen (14) counties, which include Migori, Nyamira, Siaya, Vihiga, Bomet, Bungoma, Busia, Homa Bay, Kakamega, Kisii, Kisumu, Trans Nzoia, Nandi and Kericho.
KELIN in partnership with the Council of Governors and the National Land Commission (NLC) is currently convening the 3rd Lake Region Economic Bloc (LREB) Conference taking place from the 12th – 14th November 2024 in Kisumu, Kenya. The objective of the conference is experiential learning and knowledge sharing on better governance, sustainable land management and use of natural resource. KELIN and NLC have held two previous conferences on natural resources in 2022 and 2023 in the same region. This 3rd Conference provides a platform for stakeholders to take stock of the progress ensuing from the initial engagements and strategize on collaborative future interventions. The conference drew participants from the county governments, Kenya Wildlife service, National land commission, civil society, community based organizations, academia, blue economy traders, National Government Administration Officers, Fisheries, Mining and Forestry.
The KELIN Board Chair, Mr. Ambrose Rachier , graced the event and in his opening remarks emphasized the crux of community engagement from the point of policy formulation to implementation of intervention strategies based on their lived realities. He urged the stakeholders to employ Rights Based Approaches in natural resource governance and to ensure gendered issues remain a practice priority. He cautioned against the habit of equivocating constitutional mandate since it promotes patriarchal tenets that hinder women’s efforts to claim their rights within natural resource and blue economy spaces.
Commissioner Reginald Okumu of the National Land Commission, representing the NLC’s CEO, Ms Kabale Tache, officially opened the conference and acknowledged that natural resources are facing immense threats from human induced actions, which are further exacerbated by climate change consequently increasing the vulnerability of many households.
KELIN is honored to have co-convened this Conference and remains committed to enhancing a right- based approach to land and natural resource management. This for us entails ensuring that the communities are at the center of both the conceptualization of County action plans towards resource management but also ensuring inclusion within key communities that enable lived realities to guide policy processes.
By the end of this dialogue, we shall ensure reinforced commitment to good governance in the management of land and natural resources at both National and County Levels.
“Today, as we convene for the third time, we have the opportunity to reflect on our progress, assess our challenges, and renew our commitment to the equitable and effective stewardship of our resources. For KELIN, a rights-based approach to resource management is a priority. We believe that sustainable development must include the voices of the communities most impacted by these initiatives”- Mr. Ambrose Rachier, KELIN, Board Chair
To contribute to the discussion, follow KELIN on our social media platforms. Utilizing the following #hashtags #WLPRights #Strategicpartnerships
Twitter: @KELINKenya http://www.facebook.com/kelinkenya
Website: www.kelinkenya.org
For more information, please contact.
Trevor Mwangi |Program Associate,
Women Land & Property Rights
P O Box 112 – 00202 KNH Nairobi,
Tel: 020, 2515790 │Mobile: +254710261408
Email: Trevormwangi@kelinkenya.org
